Secrets & Sake

A Paranormal Yakuza Duet, Book 1

By: CJ Ravenna

Narrated by: Nick Cracknell

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Jinta

He’s a yakuza with secrets. I’m the reporter determined to bring them to light.

When people start going missing, I sense a story that could make my whole career. I even have the perfect suspect: Raiden Noboru, enforcer for the most powerful yakuza organization in Japan.

The plan is simple: go undercover as "Hiro" the photographer, cozy up to Raiden, and discover all he knows about the disappearances.

Problem is? Raiden isn't the monster I thought he was. The beast beneath his skin is fiercely protective of what's his, but he worships my body and soul, showing me a tender side of himself he hides from the rest of the world.

But I've got a story to tell. All I have to do... is betray the man I'm falling for.

Raiden

I stopped believing in fated mates long ago. Love only ends in heartbreak.

Ever since I was a boy, my only purpose has been to serve the Namikawa-kai.

Until him. The minute I see Hiro smile like a sunbeam and catch his cherry blossom scent, I've got to have him. What I thought would be a casual fling becomes so much more. Hiro is mine. Mine to care for, mine to protect. No one else can have him.

Before I realize it, I'm beginning to dream of a life outside the yakuza, a life with Hiro. Too bad that’s all it’ll ever be. A dream. I’ll never make someone as innocent as Hiro happy. I’m a criminal, and I’m no good for him…

…But I can’t stay away from him.

Secrets & Sake is book 1 in A Paranormal Yakuza Duet. It features insta-love, fated mates and wolf shifters, a sunshine undercover reporter and the grumpy yakuza soft only for him, loads of possessive touch-him-and-die vibes, plenty of searingly hot spice, and a Happy-For-Now conclusion.

©2024 CJ Ravenna (P)2024 CJ Ravenna

Fantastic listen!

Loved this one from CJ Ravenna! It was so interesting and had a fantastic storyline! Excellent listen from start to finish and I really liked the narrator as well, first time listening to him. Bright future ahead of him!

Terrific Story & Narration🎧 Intriguing & Intense!

This is my first book written by CJ Ravenna and I enjoyed her writing style and creative mind. The story she created, an action packed paranormal MM romance, is original with interesting storylines that are captivating from start to end. The characters are intriguing and relatable story with Jinta Onodera, an investigative reporter, is looking for his big break story, one that will make him known and he wants to prove to his family that he is not the failure that they think he is. There have been a lot of missing person cases in the city and he wants to get close to the one person whose name popped up as the last person who had seen a couple of them, Raiden Noboru, an enforcer for yakuza, an organized crime syndicate in Japan. And when they met, he was not expecting to feel such a connection with Raiden. Raiden has secrets, his biggest being what he is, a wolf shifter, another being who is he bound to and serves. Jinta has his foot in the door and the two not only hit it off, but there is a deep and smoking hot chemistry between them, one they can not deny. He delves into a world he was not aware of, a supernatural world, and he handles it all bravely and brilliantly. His feelings for Raiden are real, but he never stopped working on his investigation, which may come back to haunt him in the end. This is a busy story with lots of layers and depth, a story that has plenty of drama, angst, action, mystery, thrilling suspense, heartfelt emotions, and steamy romance. The plot, world building and character development are fantastic. CJ Ravenna, thank you for this terrific story and the wild ride.

🎧📚🎧  Nick Cracknell did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life, giving each their own distinct voice, accents and all, making it easy to follow along and tell who was who. He had a complete understanding of the characters he was portraying and was believable in each role, showcasing the two lead character’s personality perfectly. Cracknell’s pacing and tone were great, handing the dialogue naturally, and he captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling them all. He is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for the terrific listen. 

"Hey Sunshine"

This is my first book, I've read or listened to, by CJ Ravenna and what an introduction. This is book one in a series called A Paranormal Yakuza Duet recently released on Audible.

Wow! This book had a little bit of everything. Dark Mafia (Yakuza) romance, werewolves, you name it this book had it. If you don't like dark books this is not for you. It's a good thing that's not me, I enjoyed this one. The only complaint I had was it dragged a bit in some parts of the story. I was like hurry up and get to the good pieces and parts. Lol

The narrator, Nick Cracknell, did an amazing job. I don't know if he's narrated any other MM books but I'm going to check that out.

An editorial journalist looking for his big break, a Yakuza 2nd dissatisfied with his life, fated mates, lots of baggage for both characters, HFN cliff hanger ending

Ok

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this book. I listened to the audio version and it was a bit difficult to get through. I like the concept of fated mates, shifters, paranormal, grumpy/sunshine, Yakuza, crime, and that it was set in Japan and with both MCs being Asian. But, there was just something not clicking with me.

The story just didn't keep my attention. I would get into the story, and enjoy what was happening, and then something would pull me out. Usually, they were little things within the story and characterization, that didn't make sense.

I like the fated mate trope, so the "insta" quality to this book was there, but I never felt it got past the physical and into a true love scenario.

The narration was ok as well, the world was brought to life but the characters were sometimes hard to differentiate and the speed felt slow at times.

Mafia and werewolves

I was really intrigued with this set up, yakuza and werewolves. Nick Cracknell did a great job of bringing the characters to life. Jinta and Raiden are both well thought out and very smexy, I just wish I connected to them a little more. Oh.. and prepare for a big cliff hanger.

Absolutely Loved It!

'Jinta has brightened my monochromatic world and filled it with color.'

“Nowhere ever really felt like home until I met you”

I absolutely LOVED this book! Amazing world building and wonderful characters. I was so excited to read a M/M Yakuza romance that I completely forgot there was a paranormal aspect to this story (even though it says paranormal in the subtitle), and it turned out to be a really welcome surprise lol Just in case it's not evident from the book summary, I won't spoil what that is, but I loved the way the author blended it in with the Yakuza way of life. I also liked that we are told there is more out there beyond what we see in this book and I wonder if any of that will make some form of appearance in the next book.

I loved both Raiden and Jinta. Grumpy/sunshine is one of my favorite tropes, and these two embody that so well. Enough that Raiden even affectionately calls Jinta Sunshine. (Because he brings light and color into his world).

We start with Jinta wanting to learn about some mysterious disappearances and bring some peace and closure to the families of the missing loved ones. But it was Raiden that quickly enamored me. Because you begin seeing his cold, strong side, and quickly learn there is empathy there underneath. And a vulnerability that he keeps walls around. The chemistry and connection between them was instant and I loved that first meeting, that first date.

Both men have insecurities and painful pasts that effect them currently. I'd say most so with Jinta, so that he battles with himself at times. I loved the character growth both do over the course of this book. And how the strength of their connection to each other increases.

I also liked some of the supporting characters- especially Ren.

I cannot wait until I start the next book. I'm already sad that it's a duet and really hope CJ Ravenna will write about more characters in this world (and have cameos of our main couple)!

I was actually almost finished reading this book before I got my hands on the audiobook and started all over. Nick Cracknell did an amazing job bringing these characters and this world to life. I have no trouble distinguishing between the characters- Jinta and Raiden, as well as a number of supporting characters. The different tones of voice he used for Raiden as opposed to Jinta was perfect and suited their personalities. I also liked the accents. I definitely have to listen to more of his narrations!

I only wish Nick could have recorded the bonus epilogue/scene as well.

Overall: 5 stars
Performance: 5 stars
Story: 5 stars